Zahara – Atlantic Coast Ride – Southern Andalusia –

Visit the Royal Spanish Riding School

We offer the Zaharatrail for groups of min. 6 persons with the riding experience for trails.

The triangle between Ronda, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean offers ever changing, spectacular scenery.

This is horse country!
The trip starts on the beaches of the Atlantic coast where you can get used to the horses in all gaits. Turning inland, you’ll ride through the coastal pine forests and across large meadows with herds of bulls and wild cattle. You will then head for the mountains and ride through the natural reserve Alcoronocales with its canyons and cork oak forests. At 3,000 ft you have a great view of the surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean…

Can be combined with any La Paz program.

Day 1: Arrival in Malaga and overnight at Rancho La Paz.
Day 2: After breakfast transfer to Zahara de los Atunes along the cost ( aprox. 2,5hours ). Here you’ll set off on your first beach ride to Barbate. Right after leaving the town, the beach is deserted and, except during the summer months, only used by the local fishers. As this stretch of the coast is under the supervision of the military, no hotels have been built, and the firm sand gives you the
opportunity to get used to your horse in walk and canter. Nearby Barbate a saddle bag picnic awaits you for lunch. After a siesta, ride through the pine forest above the steep coast of Cap Trafalgar. At this historic place with its old lighthouse you can see as far as Morocco. The horses stay in Caños de Meca, the riders drive back to the hotel at the Atlantic beach. Before or after dinner you may like to swim in the ocean or in the pool of the hotel.
Day 3: Along sandy trails you’ll ride back to the beach where you will enjoy more canters. Only towards the end of this morning you’ll reach the busier parts of the coast. You’ll be pleased to stop at a beach-bar for refreshments. For lunch you’ll turn inland to meet the support vehicle. Leaving the coastal pine forests behind, you’ll cross a stretch of fertile land with sugar beet, cotton and bean fields before reaching the first meadows of Andalusia. The support vehicle awaits you with the picnic and refreshments. Ride on along Andalusia’s meadows. The horses stay in the little farming
village Los Naveros, the riders drive back to Zahara.

Day 4: Leaving Los Naveros, you’ll ride to Paterna along old livestock trails, the “vereas”, which are still running through all of Spain, and across meadows of cows and fighting bulls. Lunch stop in
a “venta”. There are no asphalt roads between meadows and fields, giving you the opportunity to canter again and again. Enjoy the view over the wide open landscape. Keeping a respectful distance
you’ll ride around herds of fighting bulls and wild cows. The horses stay in Paterna, the riders drive to Alcala de los Gazules. The central Village Square is the heart of the village life where people meet – especially late at night after dinner. Bordered by half a dozen of pubs and in safe distance from the church, every villager walks across the square at least once a day. Virtually undiscovered
by tourism, Alcala is one of the few remaining typical Andalusian villages. There is even a saddler here that you might like to check out.
Day 5: Till now you had the possibility to know the Andalusian horses with their work in the countryside – today you will see them in high dressage. You drive to Jerez de la Frontera the heart
of Spanish Horses with the deposit of Pure Spanish Stallions, the biggest festival with Spanish Horses ( Feria de Jerez ) and of cause the Royal Riding School where to can visit the morning training. Have a look behind the scenery how to train young horses to get show horses and young riders to get good trainers. You also can see the historical monuments with the stables. After the training you have time you visit the old part of the town or have guidance in one of the famous bodegas. Use the chance to try typical tapas in one of all this small restaurants (lunch not included).
In the afternoon you drive back to Alcala.
Day 6: From Paterna you cross the opened land coming through the big groups of “retintas” the big red Andalusia cows. In this area you find a great affection of the hunting with Galgos – Spanish hunting dogs and the horses on the fields. You have lunch near Santuario de Nuestra Señora de los Santos – a small church where the whole town of Alcala comes together for their festivals. The horses stay in Patrite and you drive back to Alcala.
Day 7: Until today you have probably been amazed by the endurance and smooth canter of your Andalusian horse. Now you can admire how surefooted they are when climbing the mountains of the National Park Alcornocales. Only by special permission are we able to enter this protected nature reserve once owned by old Andalusian nobility. These mountains are covered with cork oaks
and other deciduous trees and keep the natural waters all year round, even in the summer. Rare plants, such as orchids, grow in the shade of the trees. Although this mountain range is only 1,600 ft
high, it offers spectacular views over the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic. After picnic you will get to a big reservoir where the horses and you start your way back to Rancho la Paz where you will
stay the last night.
Day 8: After breakfast transfer to Malaga airport.
(Subject to modifications)

Necessary riding experience:

You are safe in the handling of a horse and have the necessary riding experience in outside rides to have your horse in all gates in a group safe under control, you can mount and dismount without help and you are able to stand up in the stirrups during the canters and longer climbing parts in the mountains to help your horse. Some parts you have to walk ( comfortable shoes)

The maximum weight of the rider is 95 kilos with complete riding clothes

About 5 – 6  hours riding per day

Pls. pay attention to our special offers

• As new client we offer you a gratis day before the trail to get used to riding style and horses.
• If you have been at any program of La Paz before you get 10% of the trail price (Please note on the booking).

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The “Zahara Trail” includes some longer transports of the horses, a support bus is all time with the group, accomodations are in hotels by the Atlantic or Alcala – this is why we offer this trail for ( closed) groups of 6-8 persons. If you are interested in a date contact us by rancholapaz@hotmail.com

 

Prices 2025

Rider: 1.990,- €
single room supl.: 300,- €

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